One of the questions I’m asked time and time again is…
“Jacqui… what are these little white bumps around my eyes?”
More often than not, the answer is milia.
They’re one of the most common things I treat here at PURE Holistic Beauty, yet so many people have never even heard of them until they start searching online.
Clients often arrive saying,
“I thought they were just tiny spots.”
Or…
“I’ve spent a fortune on creams but nothing seems to work.”
The truth is…
Milia aren’t spots at all.
They’re tiny cysts that sit just beneath the surface of the skin. They’re made from keratin, which is a natural protein found in your skin, hair and nails.
Because they’re trapped under the skin, they don’t behave like spots and they certainly don’t pop like one either.
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💚 Why Do Milia Develop?
This is another question I hear all the time.
And the honest answer is…
There isn’t one single reason.
Sometimes it’s simply because of the way our skin naturally renews itself.
As we get older, that process slows down a little, meaning keratin can become trapped beneath the surface instead of shedding naturally.
Sometimes they’re linked to sun damage.
Sometimes they’re linked to heavier skincare products.
And sometimes…
They just happen.
One thing I always reassure my clients about is this…
You’ve done absolutely nothing wrong.
Milia are incredibly common and they can affect anyone.
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💚 Jacqui’s Tip
If you’ve recently changed your skincare and suddenly noticed lots of tiny white bumps around your eyes, it doesn’t necessarily mean the product has caused them.
It may simply have made you notice them more.
If you’re unsure, I’d always recommend having them professionally assessed before stopping products that are otherwise good for your skin.
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💚 Where Do Milia Usually Appear?
Most of the milia I treat are around the eye area.
That’s because the skin there is naturally much finer and more delicate.
They can also appear on the:
✨ Cheeks
✨ Nose
✨ Chin
✨ Forehead
✨ Around the mouth
Occasionally I see them elsewhere on the body too, but around the eyes is definitely the area people ask me about most.
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💚 Are Milia The Same As Whiteheads?
No… although they can look quite similar.
This is where lots of people get caught out.
A whitehead contains oil and bacteria.
A milia contains keratin.
That means treating them is completely different.
Whiteheads usually have an opening on the surface of the skin.
Milia don’t.
That’s why squeezing them rarely works.
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💚 Can You Remove Milia Yourself?
I completely understand the temptation.
Nearly every client tells me they’ve tried!
Some have used needles.
Some have tried squeezing them.
Others have bought extraction kits online after watching videos on social media.
Unfortunately, this usually ends with sore skin, bruising, disappointment or, even worse, scarring.
The reason is actually quite simple.
Unlike a spot, milia don’t have an opening on the surface of the skin.
They’re enclosed beneath it.
So squeezing them usually doesn’t remove the milia at all.
Instead, it simply damages the healthy skin around it.
Using Needles
Some people sterilise a sewing needle or pin and try to make their own opening in the skin.
Although I completely understand why people try this, it’s something I really wouldn’t recommend.
The skin around the eyes is incredibly delicate.
It’s very easy to damage healthy skin, introduce bacteria or even leave yourself with a scar that’s much more noticeable than the milia ever was.
Squeezing
This is definitely the most common one!
Clients often tell me they’ve been squeezing the same little bump for weeks or even months.
Because milia don’t have an opening like a spot, all that squeezing usually causes redness, bruising and irritation while the milia stays exactly where it is.
Home Extraction Kits
There are lots of extraction tools available online that promise easy milia removal.
The problem is that most of them are designed for blackheads rather than milia.
Without the correct technique, it’s very easy to damage the surrounding skin instead of removing the tiny keratin cyst underneath.
TikTok Hacks
I love that people want to learn more about their skin, but social media doesn’t always show the whole story.
I’ve seen clients after they’ve tried some of these hacks and, sadly, they’ve often been left with broken skin, infection or marks that take much longer to heal than the milia would have taken to remove professionally.
Just because something goes viral doesn’t mean it’s the safest option for your skin.
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💚 From My Treatment Room
One lovely client recently told me she’d spent nearly two years trying to remove the same milia herself.
She’d bought creams.
She’d tried exfoliating.
She’d even bought an extraction tool online.
When she finally came to see me she smiled and said,
“I wish I’d come to you first.”
I hear that far more often than you’d think.
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💚 How Do I Remove Milia?
Every consultation starts with making sure it really is milia.
If it is, I’ll explain exactly how I would remove it, answer any questions you have and make sure you feel completely comfortable before we begin.
I use Advanced Electrolysis, which allows me to treat the area very precisely while causing as little disruption to the surrounding skin as possible.
One thing clients often say afterwards is…
“Oh… that was much easier than I imagined!”
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💚 Does Milia Removal Hurt?
Everyone experiences discomfort differently, so I’d never tell someone they’ll feel nothing at all.
What I can tell you is that most people are pleasantly surprised.
The treatment is very quick, and I’ll talk you through everything as we go.
I think when people know exactly what to expect, they naturally feel much more relaxed.
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💚 What Happens Afterwards?
After treatment it’s perfectly normal for the area to look a little pink.
Some people develop a tiny scab while the skin heals.
That’s all part of the normal healing process.
I’ll explain exactly how to look after the area before you leave and I’m always happy to answer any questions afterwards too.
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💚 Will Milia Come Back?
The same milia I’ve removed won’t simply refill.
However, if you’re someone who’s naturally prone to developing milia, new ones can appear elsewhere over time.
That’s perfectly normal.
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💚 When Should You See Someone?
If the bumps are bothering you…
If you’re not sure what they are…
Or you’ve been trying to remove them yourself without success…
I’d always recommend having them professionally assessed.
Sometimes what people think is milia turns out to be something completely different.
I’d much rather you have the right advice from the beginning than spend months trying treatments that were never going to work.
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💚 My Final Thoughts
One of the reasons I love what I do is because I enjoy helping people understand their skin.
There’s so much advice online these days that it’s hard to know what’s accurate and what’s simply a trend.
If you’ve been wondering about those tiny white bumps around your eyes, or you’ve been trying to get rid of them yourself, I’d love to help.
Sometimes all it takes is a conversation.
If I can help, I’ll tell you.
If I don’t think treatment is right for you, I’ll tell you that too.
Because I’d always rather give honest advice than tell someone what they want to hear.
💚 Jacqui
Milia Removal in Southampton
At Pure Holistic Beauty in Netley, Southampton, blemish removal treatments are carried out with care and precision.
The first step is always a consultation, where we assess the area and discuss your treatment options.
📞 Call or WhatsApp: 07387 003 503
📍 Based in Netley, Southampton
🏆 Winner of the English Hair & Beauty Awards – Local Salon of the Year
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